A JAZZ evening at the Oratory School in Woodcote raised £180 for the Chiltern Centre for disabled children in Henley.

The theme of the event was the Chicago jazz scene of the Thirties and pupils from the school’s big band and the jazz band of the Oratory Preparatory School in Goring Heath entertained about 140 guests.

They were joined by saxophonist and former Oratory pupil Ollie Weston, who is now professor of jazz at the Guildhall School of Music.

Top of the bill was trumpeter Mark Armstrong, a member of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and professor of jazz at the Royal College of Music.

The event was organised by the school’s Hopkins Society and the theme was chosen as pupils will be performing Berthold Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui next month. The play, a satire on Germany under Nazi rule, is set amid the mob wars of Depression-era Chicago.

Dr Tony Stroker, who chairs the society, said: “It was a very special thing for the children to be able to play along with such professional musicians. The music they provided was simply wonderful and the audience loved every minute.

“Having had such an enjoyable evening, our guests dug deep and gave generously to this very worthy cause.”

* Mr Armstrong is to appear at the Kenton Theatre in Henley on November 8 when he will be conducting a concert called Jazz Goes To The Movies with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, of which he is musical director.